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I often ask people to share their mentoring stories. Who has influenced yourlife, the way you think, and what you believe? Who are the people that havedeeply invested themselves in you, and how have they done that? Honestly,these are some of the most moving stories I ever hear. They are always packed withdevotion and gratitude and wisdom. I learn something from each one of them.These stories connect us to each other and to what we value most.

My first mentor was my Grandfather. He was a 6-foot-something Irish man, blindedin a mining accident in his early 20’s. He never laid seeing eyes on hiswife or children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Even so, he went onto build something from nothing. He was farmer, a fisherman, and my bestfriend. We called him “Pop,” and when my Grandmother died he came to livewith us. He was a wonderful babysitter! Oh the places we would go!

We would walk to town – just the two of us – to buy fishing lures andweights and hooks and bobs. He had memorized the streets by counting thecurbs, so he always knew exactly where we were. That made me feel safe and also, I felt important. He needed me as much as I needed him.

At the time, it seemed pretty simple. I was his eyes and he wasbigger than life! As I look back on it now, there was a whole lot oflearning going on.

Pop taught me that you are never too young or small to have vision foranother – to see things they cannot. From him I learned how to balancemyself when someone is leaning on me for support. I learned to slow downwhen the path is uneven, and to communicate clearly what I see.

I smile now when I think of about our trips to town. A small child and agiant of a man on a great adventure. In many ways, I am still using thoseskills. Balancing myself, casting a vision, communicating what I see, andhelping people navigate the rough spots. Those trips to town prepared me fora much larger mission in life and I am grateful.

Find your own mentoring stories and I assure you, they will resonate. They will remind you of who you are, where you’ve been, and what matters most. Your story has the powerto encourage and equip others. Find your stories and tell them well. Indoing so, you honor both the lessons and the teachers. In short, you reconnect.

In both of my books, Designed for Success and Ready, Set…Grow!, I heartily recommended journaling. The value of writing down your own life lessons and experiences can’t be underestimated. What you’ve learned from mentors is a good writing “assignment” for your personal growth journal. Or you may want to consider a letter of gratitude. Let your mentors know the role they’ve played in your life.